Ya-Na Recruited Us to Kill Abudus - Witness

Ibrahim Adam, a 35 year-old farmer at Yendi yesterday told the Wuaku Commission, probing into the Yendi crisis, that he and six others were recruited and trained by the late Ya-Na Yakubu Andani to kill the Abudus.

The witness, who is himself an Abudu, said the Ya-Na accused his kinsmen (the Abudus) of gross disrespect to him (the Ya-Na) as the overlord of the Dagbon Traditional Area.

Adam, who was giving evidence as the 82nd witness of the Commission, said that he accepted to be on the side of the Andanis although he was an Abudu because of the ?1 million, which was offered him and the promise of other fringe benefits by the Ya-Na.

He told the Commission that he and the others were given military training by an ex-serviceman, Bashiru Gyimah, on four occasions in the night at the outskirts of Yendi.

Adam mentioned Sonunu Baskomi, Bashiru Semasi, Ibrahima Yashina, Ilwani Bilingo and one other person as those who were recruited and offered ?1 million each to receive military training.

He said after they were recruited by Gyimah, they were taken to the Gbewaa Palace where they personally met the Ya-Na, Mba Dogu, Mbamale and some other elders who briefed them about the task ahead.

Adam said the Ya-Na told them that the Abudus "were looking down on him and would, therefore, want some young men to be trained to know how to handle guns."

He said the Ya-Na stated that the trained youth would be made to show the Abudus where "power lies" whenever they attempt to celebrate any festival, which was supposed to be celebrated solely by the Ya-Na.

Adam said that after envelopes containing the monies had been handed over to Gyimah by the Mba Dugu, "we were shown the Ya-Na's armoury where we saw different kinds of guns and bullets."

He told the Commission that the group later on left the palace to Gyimah's house where they immediately started their "military training".

Asked by the Commission when the training started, witness said it began in January this year.

Adam said a day after their recruitment, Gyimah introduced one Mahama Moye, the1990 national best farmer, and Seidu Salman Amin, assemblyman for the Balagu North electoral area in Yendi as the chairman and secretary respectively in charge of the training exercise.

He added that Moye warned the trainees that "what we are about to do should be kept secret and anybody, who will leak information about our intentions would be killed."

Adam said after their names had been written by Amin, they joined a waiting pick-up, which took them to the Gbewaa Palace where they were given guns after Gyimah, Moye and Amin had held some discussions with the Ya-Na and his elders.

He added that Gyimah took them to a bush on the Kuga road where a place had already been prepared for them under a small hill to be trained.

Adam told the Commission that according to Gyimah, other groups had already been trained and that they (the new recruits) would join them after their training.

He said that the training sessions were done between 9.00 pm and 3.00 am and that they used battery powered lanterns during the period.

Adam stated that Moye played a significant role in their training since he was the one who chose the most convenient dates and time for the training.

At this point, Mr. Yaw Wiredu-Peprah, counsel for the Commission, asked whether they were able to meet those who had earlier on been trained.

Adam replied that, "it was during the D-day that we all met at the Ya-Na's palace that Gyimah introduced members of other groups who had earlier on received military training to us."

Counsel: What do you mean by D-day? Adam: The D-day was the day before the celebration of the Iud-ul-Adha.

Adam said that when they went to the Gbewaa Palace, the Ya-Na told them that "today is the day that I am going to enjoy your military skills and that you will be made to drink a prepared water to show your allegiance to me."

He said Mba Dogu then went into the Ya-Na's armoury and brought a number of sophisticated weapons, which were distributed to the trained fighters.

Adam stated that he got an AK 47 rifle whilst the Balagu assemblyman, Amin, got a G3 assault rifle, adding that there were other kinds of weapons including machine guns in the armoury.

"We were instructed to kill the Abudus should they make any attempt to celebrate the Tud-ul-Adha the following day and this instruction incited us to fire gunshots throughout the night," he added.

Adam said the armed fighters were made to guard both the Mba Dogu and the Ya-Na amid indiscriminate firing to put fear into the Abudus.

Counsel for the Commission, Wiredu-Peprah, at this juncture asked witness to tell the Commission about what happened during the fire festival and the part the Andani-trained men played.